Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-27
SPORTING.
The Competitive Drill Yesterday Crest
Feature OF the National Encamp.
ment at Washington.
Rain Interferes With the Progr
Day at Cincinnati Second only to
the Derby Exhibition
The National Drill.

WASHINGTON, May 26.-The weather
/ was superb to-day, q fair southerly
breeze mitigating the clear sunshine and
making out of door exercise enjoyable.
The DAY was iudustriously devoted to the
.competitive drill and the authorities,
profting by experience and criticism, are
making the work very interesting.
Seven or eight thousand spec
tators were in the grand stand
of the White lot enclosure and man
Tested their pleasure by very liberal and
hearty applause. The competing infantry
companies were the Government Guard of
Raleigh, n. c.; Louisiana Rifles, Sarsfleld
Rifles of New Haven, Ct; Company c,
First New Jersey; Company B, Washing
ton Light Infantry Corps; oledo, Ohio,
Cadets, and Company A, Washington
Cadets. ColoTed Company r, Sixth Il
liuCis, was entered for competition, but
withdrew on account OF illness of
one of its officers. Three competing
companies are worthy of especial mention.
The Louisiana Rifles appear Estrong in
the manual of arms. They won,ss they de-
served, repeated rounds of hearty ap-
plause. The Washington Light Infantry
fully equalled them except in the single
matter Of fixing and unixing bayonets.
While IN the line of evolution, they dis
tanced all their predecessors. To the
Toledo company, however, must be given
the highest praise. Enthusiasm ran so
high before the end OF their half hour
that the judges and company officers were
compelled to demand cessation Of ap-
plause, it being difficult for the officers to
make their commands sudlhlp
The rife competition began this morn
ing at Washington arsenal. The contests
today were at 200 and 800 yards firing. |
Tomorrow they will be at 500 and 1000 |
Yards. Lieutenant Pollard of the Wash |
ingtOn Light Infantry Corps led to-day !
with q score Of 50 out of O possible 100 |
Competition for artillery prizes was |
held :his morning IL Athletic park. Only !
two commands took part. The battery !
of Indianapolis Light Artillery, Captain |
Curtis, came first, and the men acquitted |
themselves well, very few mis-
takes being made. The First Light |
Battery of Wisconsin National Guard,
Captain j. B. Oliver, then took their
places. Captain Oliver was more DELHI
crate in giving his orders, resulting in
greater precision.
At 2:30 the severe competition began,
Chicago and Memphis companies being
The Chicagosns came first and !
were greeted with loud applause.
They performed but d few fancy |
but in wheeling, march
ing, the bayonet and skirmIsh
drill showed great proficiency. One of
their feata, the scaling of twelve foot
fence, was, perhaps, the most difficult yet
attempted on the drill ground.
The Memphians were warmly greeted in
their turn. TneY obeyed the word
Df command with marvellous
;eierity snd all their movements
we're as if impelled by springs of high
tension. Their firing and their skirmish
irills were little short of perfection.
Rain prevented other competitions.
BROKE CAMP.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-Ths Rich mond !;
Greys broke camp this evening and left
Tor home. They came here with The I'M
that they would not be de-
aimed after they had taken part in the
competitive drill.